United Nations Security Council Resolution 2036

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2036
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Resolution number	2036
Organ	Security Council
Date	29 February 2012
Meeting	6,703
Code	S/RES/2036
Subject	Somalia
Result	Adopted

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2036 United Nations Security Council Resolution 2036 is a binding decision adopted on 29 February 2012 by the United Nations Security Council addressing the situation in Somalia and the mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The text renews and adjusts the authorization for regional and international efforts to stabilize Mogadishu, combat Al-Shabaab, and support Somali political institutions, invoking cooperation among the African Union, the European Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the United States Department of State. The resolution situates itself within the broader framework of United Nations mandates on peacekeeping and counterterrorism, linking to earlier Council actions such as Resolution 1814 and Resolution 1964.

Background

In the years preceding the resolution, Somalia experienced prolonged conflict involving the Transitional Federal Government, insurgent groups like Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam, and clan-based movements including the Islamic Courts Union. Regional and international actors including the African Union, Ethiopia, Kenya, the United States Department of Defense, and the European Union engaged in security, humanitarian, and diplomatic efforts. The establishment of AMISOM in 2007 under earlier United Nations Security Council authorizations aimed to support the Transitional Federal Institutions and protect key installations in Mogadishu and other urban centers. Prior resolutions such as Resolution 1744 and Resolution 1844 expanded mandates on sanctions and troop authorizations, while international conferences in Nairobi and Djibouti sought political roadmaps for state formation.

Provisions of the Resolution

The resolution authorizes an increase in the troop ceiling for AMISOM and delineates tasks to be undertaken by African Union forces, including protecting key facilities in Mogadishu, supporting the Transitional Federal Institutions, and enabling delivery of humanitarian assistance coordinated with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia. It calls for enhanced coordination with the European Union Naval Force Somalia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization regarding piracy off the coast of Somalia and requests logistical, financial, and training assistance from international partners such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral contributors including Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, and Ethiopia. The resolution reaffirms measures outlined in earlier Council texts on sanctions regimes overseen by the Sanctions Committee and encourages improvements in civilian protection, rule of law, and support for institution-building associated with the Provisional Federal Institutions and transitional processes endorsed at the Transitional Federal Government conferences.

Voting and Adoption

The resolution was adopted during meeting 6,703 of the United Nations Security Council with co-sponsorship and consultations involving permanent members such as the United States Department of State (representing the United States) and the United Kingdom, as well as elected members including Luxembourg and South Africa. Deliberations referenced prior Security Council resolutions on Somalia, counterterrorism measures endorsed by Resolution 1373, and the role of regional organizations such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. The Council’s vote reflected consensus on the need to bolster AMISOM capabilities while emphasizing accountability and human rights monitoring by entities like the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Implementation and Impact

Following adoption, the resolution shaped AMISOM force generation and deployment plans, affecting troop-contributing countries including Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Djibouti, and Sierra Leone. International donors and institutions such as the European Union and the World Bank mobilized financial and logistical support to align with the mandate. Operational outcomes included expanded AMISOM operations in Mogadishu and shifts in territorial control with implications for Al-Shabaab-held areas, maritime security efforts involving the European Union Naval Force Somalia and commercial shipping lanes, and political processes culminating in the Federal Government of Somalia formation in 2012. Humanitarian and human rights organizations including International Committee of the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders reported variable access to populations, while think tanks such as the International Crisis Group and academic centers like the Chatham House Africa Programme assessed the resolution’s effects on stabilization, counterinsurgency, and governance trajectories.

Related Developments and Responses

The resolution intersected with regional diplomatic initiatives including Kenya’s mediation efforts and the IGAD-led programs for political reconciliation, as well as bilateral security partnerships with the United States Department of State and training missions from the European Union Training Mission Somalia. Responses from civil society, including Somali diaspora organizations in Minneapolis and London, highlighted concerns about civilian casualties and accountability mechanisms involving the International Criminal Court and regional human rights bodies. Subsequent Security Council instruments and follow-up missions, including adjustments to the AMISOM mandate and the eventual transition toward a United Nations presence in Somalia, trace policy continuity from this resolution through later texts addressing piracy, terrorism financing, and institution-building in Somalia.

Category:United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning Somalia